Low-level alarm switch



March 10, 1925.

J. E. DOWD Low LEVEL ALARM SWITCH Filed sept. s. 1923 w1 1,111,114 um IN V EN TOR JEL@ wd BY LW a A TTORNE YS WITNESSES ff? JLM 4 Patented Mar. 10, 1925.-

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES Application tiled September To all lwhom. it may concern.'

Be it known thatI I, JAMES E. Down, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Low-Level Alarm Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to low level alarm switches especially adapted for use on fuel tanks of automobiles.

Briefly stated an important object of this invention is to provide a novel form of low level alarm switch adapted to indicate electrically when the fuel in the gasoline tank drops below a predetermined point whereby the complete exhaustion of the fuel in the tank is prevented.

Further the invention forming the subject matter of this application may be conveniently applied to gasoline tanks without elaborately altering the construction of the same and without the exercise of unusual skill.

Also an important object of this invention is to provide a low level alarm switch which remains in its signalling position when operated until the fuel supply is replenished.

A further object of the invention is |:o provide a low level alarm switch which is safe, of highly simplified construction and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be ap parent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the 1mproved alarm switch applied.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the alarm ap plied.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional v iew through the alarm switch` the alarm switch being in its inoperative position.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the alarm switch, the same being in its operative position as the result of the depletion of the fuel supply,

Figure 5 is a plan view of a supporting ring embodied in the invention.

Figure 6 is a view of a wiring diagram which may be employed in connection with the inventiom 8, 1923. Serial No. 661,666.

Figure 7 is a detail transverse sectional yiew through a housing embodied in the invention.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention` the numeral 5 designates a fuel tank, the upper portion of which is provided with a boss or tubular extension 6 through which the operating rod 7 of the gage is extended. The fuel gage rod 7 is provided with a hand 8 which as illustrated in Figure 2 plays over a dial and thereby indicates the quantity of fue] in the tank.

The invention forming the subjectl matter of this application resides in providing simple means to indicate when the gage hand 8 approaches or nearly approaches the empty point so that the operator may replenish the fuel supply as early as possible. However, the low level alarm is so adjusted with relation to the gage that the alarm will be actuated before the fuel supply is completely exhausted so that the operator will have ample warning.

In carrying out the invention a tubular housing 10 is mounted upon the upper portion of the boss 6 and is connected thereto by means of a coupling member 11. A gasket 12 is confined between the lower end of the housing 10 and the upper portion of the boss 6 so as to prevent the entrance of foreign matter such as rain and dust. The top 14 and the hand which plays about the same may be viewed through the transparent top 16 on the housing 10.

As shown in Figure 2, indicia such as Empty, Ml, 1/2, 1% and full may be applied to the under side of the top glass 16 so that the magnet may cooperate with this indicia to accurately indicate the quantity of fuel in the tank.

The glass top 16 is held in place upon the housing 10 by means of a ring 18, the upper portion of which is formed with an inwardly extending annular Harige 20 which also holds a ring 22 in position, the said ring 22 being of any suitable metal.

The metal ring 22l is provided with a pair of oppositely arranged inwardly directed apertured ears 24 which have connection through the medium of fastening devices 26 with the ends 27 and 28 of a switch container 30.

The ends 27 and 28 of the switch container 30 may be of insulating material carried by said insulated end, a second leaf spring contact in the path of travel of said first named contact and adapted to be engaged thereby, and a U-shaped magnet arranged within said housing and adapted to be carried by the hand of a gauge, said magnet being adapted to move said head, whereby to engage said rst and second named contacts, and a fastening device connecting the insulated end of said switch container to said ring and electrically c011- nectng said second named contactl to said ring.

4. The combination of a gauge having a hand, a U-shapedvmagnet connected to said hand, a housing receiving said magnet, a transparent top mounted on said housin a metal ring mounted on said top and havlng ears, a switch container having ends of insulating material connected to said ears, a head responsive to the action of said magnet and having a contact connected to one of the ends of said container, a second contact arranged in the path of travel of said first named contact and having electrical connection with said ring, and a binding post connected to said lirst named contact and being carried by one of the ends of said switch container.

JAMES EDWARD DOWD. 

